forest fires:Destroying trees

A long time ago, most forest fires

were started by lightning. But now,

many more are started by people. Most

are caused by campfires, cigarettes,

and arson (set on purpose). In an

average year, 68,900 fires burn 31/2

million acres of our precious trees.

All forest fires begin as surface fires

that burn leaves and plants on the ground.

When the flames become very hot,

everything underground is charred, too.

During a crown fire, the flames

spread from treetop to treetop. This

causes the fire to spread rapidly.

In the past, forest fires were detected

by rangers who searched for smoke

from tall lookout towers. When they

saw a fire, trained ground crews were

called. Lookout towers are still used

in some places. But the newest way to

spot fires is by weather satellites that

can show the exact location of the fire.

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forest fires

© Remedia Publications 2006

The fires are fought in several ways.

Sometimes smoke jumpers parachute

into hard-to-reach places to fight the fire

on the ground. Other crews clear land

of weeds and brush to make a firebreak,

to keep the fire from spreading. They

also start backfires by setting fires

along the fire line so the big fire will

stop there. Helicopters drop buckets

of water. Aircraft tankers drop a red,

gooey liquid that sticks to everything

it hits, keeping the fire from burning.

Special fire trucks that can travel off-

road bring water and hoses to the fire.

on a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions:Cause and effect

1. What causes most forest fires today?

2. Write the sentence that tells what effect a crown fire has in a forest.

finding facts/reading for Details

3. What is the newest way to detect forest fires?

4. What do we call people who parachute into forest fires?

5. How many acres of trees are destroyed in an average year?

opinion

6. Which one of the various fire crews do you think has the most dangerous job? Why?

7. What weather condition do you think is the worst to have during a forest fire?

Vocabulary

8. What word in the first paragraph means “very valuable or important?”

BoNUs

What animal figure dressed as a forest ranger became a famous symbol

of the need for preventing forest fires?

Finish this slogan that appears on that symbol:

“Only you______________________________ .”

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